Infusing device



Nov. 28, 1967 T. s. GORTON, JR 3,354,812

INFUSING DEVICE Filed March 16, 1965 5 Sheets$heet 1 35? 22 19 16 46 48 1 "JHHHI) FIG-I THOMAS s. GORTON JR 8): KMG 'QL- U ATTORNEY Nov. 28, 1967 T. s. GORTON, JR 3,354,812

INFUSING DEVICE Filed March 16, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG5 I, 24 |e 58 IIHH- FIGE 40 FIG? 20 11-9 30 58 25 1". I I/I/I/I/ J F169 FIG O 'm/vE/vm/a- 20 THOMAS s. GORTON JR. 19 g a): fiMOLJ Jim ATTORI B Nov. 28, 1967 T. s. GORTON, JR

INFUSING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 16, 1965 FIGII FIG. l2

lNVE/VTOR THOMAS GORTON JR.

W QL-H Pi ATTORNE United States Patent G 3,354,812 INFUSING DEVICE Thomas S. Gorton, Jr., 82 Larchwood Drive, Cambridge, Mass. 02138 Filed Mar. 16, 1965, Ser. No. 440,112 Claims. (Cl. 99-323) This invention relates to an infusing device and more particularly to an infusing device for use in steeping tea.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel and improved infusing device particularly adapted for infusing tea having a perforated material holding portion and an elongated handle whereby the device may be manipulated in the manner of a spoon to effect infusion of the material within the holder when the filled holder is immersed in water.

With this general object in view and such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the infusing device hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the. drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the present infusing device;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

FIG. 3 is a plan view similar to FIG. 1 showing the device in its open position;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the device in its open position;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the device as seen from the underside;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the underside of the detachable cover portion;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the assembled device in its closed position;

FIG. 8 is a similar view showing the device with the cover opened;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the perforated portions of the device;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a modified form of the invention as seen in its open position; and

FIG. 12 is a side elevation of the device of FIG. 11 in a closed position. I Ingeneral, the present invention contemplates a novel infusing device which for the purposes of illustration, but not by way of limitation, is illustrated and described herein as a tea infusing device and which may comprise a molded plastic material. The illustrated infusing device is made in two parts, one part having a hollow tea holding portion provided with a handle and having a perforated bottom wall, the other part comprising a perforated cover portion also provided with a handle slidably carried by the handle'of the tea holding portion to permit sliding of the cover portion into open and closed position. In operation,-in order to fill the device, the cover is moved to its open position, and a quantity of loose tea is scooped from a supply container by the holding portion whereupon the cover is closed. In accordance with the present invention the present device 'is. particularly adapted for means is provided in both the cover and holder for effecting efficient passage of the water through the tea and for enabling tea dust to be easily removed prior to immersion of the filled holding portion into water.

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Referring now to the drawings, the present tea infusing device indicated generally at 10 comprises a tea holding portion 12 having a perforated bottom wall 14 and provided with an elongated handle 16. The tea holding portion 12 is generally oval-shaped or elliptical in plan elevation, as shown, and is provided with side walls 18 which taper downwardly from the open top of the holder to the perforated bottom wall 14 to provide a generally cupshaped holder. The bottom surface of the holding portion is inclined forwardly and upwardly such that the forward sectionof the holding portion is shallower than the rear portion. The elongated handle 16 formed integrally with the holding portion 12 is provided with a dovetail groove 19, as shown in FIG. 9, extended longitudinally of the handle 16 and is arranged to slidingly receive an elongated handle 2t? of a perforated cover member 22 formed integrally with the handle 20. The perforated cover member 22 is provided with side walls 23 and is also oval-shaped in plan elevation and of a size such as to fit over the open end of the tea holding portion 12 as shown. The area within the cover member is such as to allow for expansion of the tea within the holder upon immersion in water and also to permit the loose tea within the holder to be shaken and any dust removed therefrom. The top or open end of the cup-shaped holding portion 12 is on the same plane as the upper surface of its handle 16. The cover portion handle 20 is dovetail-shaped in cross section to slidingly fit into the dovetail groove 19 in a manner such as to present the upper surface of the cover handle 20 flush with the upper surface of the holder portion 16 as illustrated in cross section in FIG. 9. The line defining the undersurface of the cover member 22 is slightly inclined downwardly and outwardly relative to the horizontal plane of its handle 20 so that the bottom edge of the cover firmly engages the top edge of the holding portion while the cover is being moved to a closed position relative to the holding portion. Thus, the side walls of the cover member are firmly engaged with the open end of the holding portion to securely close the same during use. In practice, due to its flexible nature and shape, the cover is held firmly over the holding portion.

The outer end of the cover handle 29 extends lengthwise beyond the outer end of the holder handle 16 and is provided with a gripping portion 24 by which the handle may be gripped between the thumb and second finger, and the upper end of the portion 24 is curved upwardly as indicated at 25 to receive the forefinger to facilitate sliding of the cover member into and out of closed position relative to the holding portion. The inner end 26 of the gripping portion provides a vertical stop which engages the correspondingly shaped outer end 28 of the holder handle 16 when the cover is closed. A reinforcing rib 30 extending angularly from the flat face 26 to the underside of the handle 20 is arranged to fit into a correspondingly shaped hollow portion 32 formed at the end of the holder handle 16 when the cover is closed as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The downwardly curved end 34 of the holder handle 16 and a curved cutout portion 36 of the gripping portion 24 come together to form a single downwardly curved portion as shown when the cover is closed.

The inner end of the cover handle 26 is also provided with a reinforcing rib 38 where it joins the cover member 22, a portion 39 of the rib extending over the top of the cover as shown. The cover member extends downwardly at a slight angel relative to the upper surface of the handle 20, as described, to cause the cover to slide and fit snugly around the open end of the holding portion. In practice, the cover member is held in close and slightly flexed engagement with the top edges of the holding portion 12 in its closed position. The inner end of the dovetail groove 19 terminates at an angular line 40 adjacent the side 3 wall 18 and provides a stop for the correspondingly shaped inner end 42 of the handle 20.

The outer end of th dovetail groove 19 terminates a short distance from the outer end of the handle 16 .at a point indicated at 44, FIG. 1, at which point the groove widens to form an entrance portion 46 arranged to slid ingly receive a widened end portion 48 of the handle 20 as shown. The dovetail cross section shape of the handle 20 extends from the inner end 42 of the handle to a point 50 where the handle is widened as at 48.

In order to prevent complete disengagement of the cover member 22 from the holding portion 12, during normal operation, the underside of the outer end of the cover member 22 is provided with a depending stop portion 52 which is arranged to engage a portion 54 of the inner surface of the wall 18 of the holder when the cover is in its open position as shown in FIG. 8. However, when it is desired to disassemble the cover member from the holder, the portion 22 may be flexed upwardly slightly to lift the stop 52 above the wall 18 whereupon the cover member may be completely withdrawn from the handle 16. Conversely, when assembling the parts, the leading end 42 of the handle 20 is inserted into the dovetail groove 19 after passing through the widened entrance portion 46, and when slidingly engaged the stop member 52 will ride over the wall 18.

It will be observed that the handle 16 of the holding portion is provided with a cutout portion 58 on its underside to provide a relatively narrow portion adjacent the end of the handle 16. This narrow portion is of a size and cross section to fit into the grooved or cutout part in the edge of a cover used for a conventional teapot so that the teapot cover may be partly closed when the pres ent device is in the teapot with the handle extending above the cover.

As illustrated in the drawings and in cross section in FIG. 10, both the cover member 22 and the holding portion 12 are provided with perforations. The perforations are positioned in the top wall of the cover member and in the bottom wall of the holding portion and permit water to pass into the interior of the holding portion to infuse the material held therein. As shown, the perforations indicated at 60 are tapered and are defined by spaced transverse struts 62 triangular in cross section and are formed integrally with similarly spaced longitudinal struts 64, also triangular in cross section. The apices of the transverse struts 62 intersect at right angles with the apices of the longitudinal struts 64 to form the larger ends 66 of the tapered perforations 60. As illustrated, the larger or wider ends of the perforations are disposed on the outside surfaces of the top wall of the cover member 22 and the bottom wall of the holding portion 12 and the narrower or smaller ends 68 of the perforations are on the inner surfaces of the top and bottom Walls of the cover and holding portions, respectively. As shown, the inner surfaces of the top and bottom walls of both the cover member and holding portion are flat. The particular structure of the perforations substantially increases the efficiency of the present device. An operation, when the filled device is immersed in water and manipulated between the fingers, the water is caused to flow more easily into the body of the device as defined by the cover member and the holding portion. The wider ends of the tapered perforations guide the water into the body of the device so that it readily infuses with the tea. In addition, the perforated areas in the cover and holding portion is increased by utilizing square holes, wider on the outside than the inside. The wide entrance portions of the square tapered holes enable more boiling water to pass into the holding portion than would pass through round holes. Another advantage of the present novel infusing device resides in the fact that it is quite easily cleaned. 'This is due to the fact that the inner surfaces of the top 4 and bottom Walls of the cover member and holding'portion, respectively, are smooth and flat, and the tapered holes having wider entrance portions enable particles caught in the openings to be easily washed out through the wider portions of the openings when the device is held under a running water faucet.

FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate a modified form of the invention also made in two parts indicated at 70, 72, one part 70 comprising a hollow portion 74 for holding tea or other infusion material provided with a handle 76 and having a perforated bottom wall 78. The other part 72 comprises a perforated cover member 80 also having a handle 82. The hollow or holding portion and the cover member are each of the same construction as the cover member 22 and holding portion 12 illustrated in FIGS. 1-8.

As best shown in FIG. 11, the handle 76 is provided with an upstanding rib 84 along one edge 85 of the upper surface of the handle. The rib is spaced from the other edge 86 and extends a short distance rearwardly from the junction of the handle and rear wall 88 of the holding portion 74 providing a stop for the handle 82 as will be described. The part 72, including the cover member 80 and its handle 82, are pivotally mounted on handle 76 by means of rivet 90 extended through each handle as shown. The forward end of handle 82 is provided with a cutout portion 92 arranged to cooperate with rib or stop member 84 on handle 76 when the handles are aligned in scissor fashion to assure that the cover member 80 snugly closes the open end of the holding portion 74 after the holding portion has been filled with tea or another infusion material. The device may be opened, as shown in FIG. 11, tea scooped into holding portion 74, and closed, as shown in FIG. 12, by squeezing the ends 94, 96 of the handles together. The cover member slides over the upper surface of the holding portion removing any excess tea, and the device may then be immersed in water and manipulated in the manner heretofore described in connection with the preferred form of the invention.

While the preferred and a modified embodiment of the invention have been herein illustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims. Having thus described the invention, what is claimed 1. An infusing device comprising an infusion material holding portion having a handle and a perforated bottom wall, and a perforated cover member having a handle slidingly mounted on the first handle and operable to move the cover member into closed or open position relative to the material holding portion, said cover member being provided with a stop engageable with said holding portion when the cover is in its open position to prevent complete detachment of the cover member from the holding portion, said cover member being downwardlyim clined relative to its handle and capable of flexing to disengage the stop and permit detachment of the cover member from the holding portion, the ends of said handles including means cooperating to limit the movement of the cover member into closed position.

2. A two-part infusing device comprising a holding portion having a handle, and a cover for the holding portion, said cover having a handle carried by the holding portion handle operable to move the cover from a closed to an open position relative to said holding portion, the top wall of the cover and the bottom wall of the holding portion each being perforated, the line defining the top surface and open end of said holding portion being straight relative to the line defining the upper surface of its handle, and the line defining the bottom surface of the cover member being downwardly inclined .relative to its handle to cause the cover to flex and fit snugly and close the open end of the holding portion and to prevent separation of the parts during use, the end of said handles including means cooperating to limit the movement of the cover member into closed position.

3. An infusion device of the character described comprising an infusion material holding portion adapted to hold a quantity of material to be infused having a handle and a perforated bottom wall, a cover member for said holding portion also having a handle, said handle 'being mounted on the holding portion handle and operable to move the cover member into closed and open positions relative to the holding portion, the perforations in said cover member and in the bottom wall of said holding portion being in the form of a grid and having rectangular and inwardly tapered openings, said openings being defined by spaced transverse struts triangular in cross section and formed integrally with similarly spaced longitudinal struts also triangular in cross section.

4. An infusion device adapted for immersion in water comprising a material holding portion having a handle, a perforated bottom wall and a side wall, and a cover member for said holding portion also having a handle, said cover member handle being mounted on said holding portion handle and operable to move the cover member into closed and open position relative to the holding portion, said cover member handle extending lengthwise beyond the outer end of said holding portion handle and having a finger gripping portion at its outer end, said finger gripping portion including a downwardly extending part comprising a stop for engaging the end of the holding portion handle when in its closed position.

5. An infusing device of the character described in claim 4 wherein the holding member handle portion is provided with a dovetail-shaped groove and the cover member handle portion is dovetail-shaped in cross section and slidably mounted in the dovetail-shaped groove in the holding member handle portion and arranged to slide in said groove to present the cover into and out of closing engagement with the holding portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 837,506 12/ 1906 Raney. 1,601,613 9/1926 Fenyves 99-323 2,570,521 10/ 1951 Chester 99-232 FOREIGN PATENTS 11,007 5/1907 Great Britain.

578,469 6/ 1946 Great Britain.

888,819 2/ 1962 Great Britain.

643,355 8/1962 Italy.

WILLIAM I. PRICE, Primary Examiner.

S. P. FISHER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN INFUSING DEVICE COMPRISING AN INFUSION MATERIAL HOLDING PORTION HAVING A HANDLE AND A PERFORATED BOTTOM WALL, AND A PERFORATED COVER MEMBER HAVING A HANDLE SLIDINGLY MOUNTED ON THE FIRST HANDLE AND OPERABLE TO MOVE THE COVER MEMBER INTO CLOSED OR OPEN POSITION RELATIVE TO THE MATERIAL HOLDING PORTION, SAID COVER MEMBER BEING PROVIDED WITH A STOP ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID HOLDING PORTION WHEN THE COVER IS IN ITS OPEN POSITION TO PREVENT COMPLETE DETACHMENT OF THE COVER MEMBER FROM THE HOLDING PORTION, SAID COVER MEMBER BEING DOWNWARDLY INCLINED RELATIVE TO ITS HANDLE AND CAPABLE OF FLEXING TO DISENGAGE THE STOP AND PERMIT DETACHMENT OF THE COVER MEMBER FROM THE HOLDING PORTION, THE ENDS OF SAID HANDLES INCLUDING MEANS COOPERATING TO LIMIT THE MOVEMENT OF THE COVER MEMBER INTO CLOSED POSITION. 